Box or crate



J. C. ROUND.

BOX 0R CRATE. APPLlCATtON FILED SEPT. 21, 1919.

Patented Apr. 27, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- J. C. ROUND.

BOX 0R CRATE.

APRLICATION FILED SEPT. 27.1919.

1,338,533, Patented Apr. 27,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

- so placed it is JOHN CORNWELL ROUND, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

BOX OR CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 2'7, 1920.

Application filed September 27, 1919. Serial No. 326,806.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN ConNwE'LL ROUND, subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Purbrook-, Crescent Wood Road, Sydenham Hill, London, S. E., 26, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Boxes or Crates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has, reference to crates or boxes which can be taken to pieces for package and storage purposes, the object being to, produce a breakdown box or crate which is simple in construction and which will occupy the minimum of space when stored or packed away, and also facilitate the return of empty cases or crates.

According to my invention when forming the parts of the box or crate, that is to saythe sides, ends, lid, and bottom of wood, cardboard, or like material, I provide each part with. a metallic or other flange or groove (one edge of which acts as a flange) fixed or secured to two of their opposite edges,the other-two opposite edges remaining plain so that when these arts are assembled the plain edges of t e one part are slipped by or fit into the flanged or grooved edge of the adjacent parts, each part being locked on its plain edges by the flanges or grooves on the edges of the adjacent parts. The sixth part-that is the lid or cover, is enabled to be placed into its correlative position by forming one of the flanges or sides of the groove of an adjacent part so as to hinge, and when such lid or cover is fixed or held by the hinged flange or side of the groove being secured in a right angle position to the said lid by any suitable means. Or adjacent sides may each have a flange hinged for this purpose. Or instead of hinging a flange or groove of one or two of the parts adjacent to the lid or cover I accomplish the same purpose by forming the parts constituting the lid or cover with a strip or portion of one of its plain edges loose so that the opposite edge can be slipped under the flange side and then the loose strip passed under the flange of the other adjacent side. Or one of the flanges on one of the adjacent sides may be made detachable for this purose. P In order to enable the five parts forming the crate or box to be held together before the lid or cover is fixed thereon to permit the same being filled I provide suitable of the one adjacent catches or equivalent on the parts constituting the sides and ends which temporarily hold them in position until finally locked by the lid or cover.

Whenconstructing the parts of a box of metal the flanges or grooves may be formed on the two edges of such parts by press tools, or they may be made independently and secured to the two edges of the parts. I may also strengthen or stiffen the plain edges of the parts by forming a head or strengthening flange thereon, and such bead or strengtheningflange may act as the temporary medium for holding the parts in position while being assembled and while filling or packing. v

The invention is illustrated on the accompanying drawings. V

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a box constructed according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a view of the detached parts of a box showing five of the parts packed together.

Fig. 3 is a View of one of the metallic flanges. showing the inner face of the portion which is fixed to one of the edges of lghe inner face of one of the parts of the Fig. 4 is a view showing the inner face of the free portion which embraces the edge of the adjacent part of the box.

Fig. 5 is a back view of one of the grooves.

Fig. 6 is a front view of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is an inner View of one of the parts of a crate with a metallic flange forming two of its opposite edges.

Fig. 8 is an edge view of one of the ends of a crate.

Figs. 9 to 15 inclusive show details of various parts and modifications.

Figs. 16 and 17 show parts of a metallic box constructed according to this invention.

Figs. 18 to 20 inclusive show details of other parts.

A represents the sides, B the ends, D the bottom, and E the lid or cover of a box made of wood. Fixed or secured in any suitable manner to two of the opposite edges of each part is a metallic flange F. These flanges may be right angle flanges as shown by Figs. 2, 3, and 4:, or grooves as shown by Figs. 5 and 6, or T shape as shown by Fig. 9 and are fixed to the inner surface of the opposite edges of each part, so that when the parts are assembled the flanges on the ends B lap over or bear against the plain edges of the sides A, the flanges on the bottom D and those on the lid or cover E lap over or bear against the plain edges of the ends B, and the flanges on the lower edge of the sides A overlap or bear against the plain edges of the .bottom D; and in order to enable the sixth part, that is the lid or cover E to be placed in its correlative position one or both of the flanges on the upper edges of the sides A are made to hinge as shown by Figs. 1 and 2. When such lid or cover is so placed it is fixed or held by its hinged part of the flange or flanges being secured in a right angle position to said lid in any suitable manner.

For the purpose of enabling the five parts forming the crate or box to hold together before the lid or cover E is fixed thereon to permit the same being filled I provide suitable catches or otherdevices on the parts A and B. On the drawing I have shown a device consisting of a key-hole slot f formed near the upper and lower end of that part of the flange F which is secured to the two edges of the ends B, and secured to the plain edges of the sidesA is a projection a (see Fig. 10) the head of which passes freely through the large part of the slot f, but when the parts of the box are in position the head fits at the back of the narrowportion, thereby temporarily holding such parts together until the lid or cover is fitted thereon, when they are finally locked together. Other means for temporarily holding the parts A, B, and D may, however, be employed.

When using grooves instead of right angle flanges the plain edges of the adjacent part fit into the grooves. At Figs. 13 and 14 I have shown an example of this method of construction as applied to a box the sides of which are of greater length than the ends. It will be found, especially when such boxes are made of thin wood or other light material, that the grooves prevent the sides of the box from being crushed inward, thereby preventing any likelihood of the contents being damaged.

'At Fig. 11 I have shown another method of enabling the lid or cover E to be placed into its correlative position and secured or fixed. In this case instead of making one of the flanges F on one or both of the upper edges of the sides A to hinge I cut a strip 6 off one of the plain edges of said lid or cover, which strip, after placing the remaining portion of said lid or cover in position, can be slipped under the flange F on the side A and over the free ends of the flanges 011 the lid or cover, thus holding the parts firmly together. Or I may make one of the flanges F on one of the adjacent edges of the sides A detachable and capable of sliding into and engaging with a metallic strip fixed to this edge of said side A, a shown by Fig. 7

the outer surface of said parts, as shown by Fig. 9. The key-hole slots 7 in this case engaging with studs a secured to the outer surface of the adjacent parts. Or the flanges F may be made from a flat strip of metal, wood, or other material and secured to the opposite edges of the parts A, B, D, and E in the manner shown by Figs. 9 Or when using wood flanges, such flanges may be secured to the opposite edges of theinner surface of said parts. Y

When making the parts of a box or crate from two, three or more ply wood, fiber, or other material I may protect the edges of such parts with a right angle protecting flange as shown by Fig. 18. Or the proiiecting flanges may be grooved as shown by *ig. l9.

At Figs. 16 and 17 I have shown an example of the parts of a box made of metal, the flanges or grooves'F beingformed on the opposite edges of said parts by suitable press tools. Or such flanges or grooves may be made separately and secured to the opposite edges of each part. I-may also stiffen the plain edges of the parts by forming a bead f or equivalent on such edges, and such beading may act as the temporary medium for holding the parts of the box in position while being assembled and while filling or packing the contents, as shown by Fig. 17. The hinged flange on one or both of the upper edges of the sides A may be formed of wire as shown by Fig. 16. The hinged flanges whether formed of wire or otherwise may be usefully employed as a means for lifting the box or crate, provision being made in such flanges when solid for this purpose.

As an additional security for holding the flanges F on their respective parts when made of wood or like material I may form prongs or projections on the surface of that part of the flange by punching out portions of the metal or otherwise.

At Fig. 20 I have shown how the spaces at the corners of a box made according to this invention may be filled in by a block of rubher or other suitable material.- V i What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is A collapsible box, comprising ends, a top, and a bottom, each having inwardly projecting flanges on two of its opposite edges which overlap the plain edges of the adjacent part, sides having inwardly projecting flan es which overlap the bottom of the box, ilates hinged to the sides and foldable name to this specification in the presence of over the top of the box, means for securing two subscribing Witnesses.

the said lstes to the top, end detachable JOHN CORNWELL ROUND means 101 tempoi mily locking the ends of 5 the box to its sides before the sides are se- Vitnesses:

cured to'the top. H. W. DENTON-INGHAM,

In testimony whereof I have signed my E. J. DENTON-INGHAM. 

